History Châteauneuf-du-Pape

saint théodoric

the earliest settlement believed have been near chapel saint-théodoric, east of current village center. romanesque chapel erected monks of abbey of saint-théodoric in avignon @ end of 10th or beginning of 11th century , oldest building in commune. although village lay within comtat venaissin, 1 of fiefs of bishop of avignon , had special status. bishop of avignon held fiefs of gigognan , bédarrides.

in second half of 11th century fortified village built higher hill viscount rostaing béranger in fiefdom of brother, bishop of avignon. wall of present church building formed part of fortification , arrowslits in clock tower still visible. 2 towers , other vestiges of these fortifications have survived. new village have contained suitable fortified residence bishop believed have been located between church , site of later castle.

in 1238 bishop of avignon obtained important privilege holy roman emperor frederick ii (r. 1195–1250). salt shipped on rhône , landed @ châteauneuf not subject tax. result, trade in salt became considerable source of revenue village.

avignon popes

bertrand de got, archbishop of bordeaux, elected pope in 1305, , took name of clement v. transferred papacy avignon in 1309. register of pontifical letters reveals clement v visited châteauneuf on several occasions, long periods. while in village have been guest @ bishop s residence. in 1312 stayed in village 6–22 november. in 1313 returned 9 may 1 july , again 19 october 4 december. following year, 1314, in châteauneuf 24–30 march. died in castle of roquemaure on opposite bank of rhône on 7 april 1314.

the next pope, jacques dèze, elected in 1316 , took name john xxii. after coronation in lyon on 5 september 1316, travelled down rhône , spent 10 days in châteauneuf before arrived in avignon. had served bishop of avignon between 1310 , 1313 , while bishop had been seigneur of châteauneuf-du-pape. had arranged nephew jacques de via succeed him bishop. on death of nephew in 1317 chose not appoint successor, during papacy village belonged directly pope. john xxii initiated large number of building projects, including additions palais des papes in avignon defensive castles @ barbentane, bédarrides, noves , sorgues. in 1317, work began on construction of castle in châteauneuf-du-pape. john xxii derived little benefit new castle, not completed until 1333, year before death. ruins of castle prominent feature of village.

there no record of next avignon pope, benedict xii, (1334–1342), having ever stayed in castle, in 1335 granted village right have ship mill on rhône, market every tuesday , 2 fairs during year. did not keep post of bishop of avignon , appointed new bishop replace himself in 1336. none of following 4 popes stayed in châteauneuf-du-pape either, after schism of catholic church in 1378, avignon antipope clement vii sought security of castle , 1385 1387 had improvements carried out on building.

in 14th century presence of pope in avignon , construction of castle brought considerable prosperity village. economy based on agriculture, villagers possessed lime kilns , local merchants supplied roof tiles palais des papes in avignon , floor tiles castle being built in barbentane. village outgrew mid-11th century ramparts , houses began built outside walls. in 1381 village obtained permission impose local tax fund construction of new system of fortifications around village. these defensive towers have disappeared except portalet tower in rue des papes, parts of walls remain.